Neighborhood underwear and loungewear boutique

Local shoppers who want to try things on and get advice, plus gift buyers looking for sleepwear and robes.

Retail markup on products bought wholesale. Add-ons such as bra fitting sessions, gift sets and seasonal items can raise the average sale.

• Customer service and sensitivity
• Buying and stock management
• Merchandising and visual display

• Check your state's rules for a seller's permit or sales tax registration, and your city or county business license
• General liability insurance and coverage for stock, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Size ranges tie up cash in inventory, and slow sizes can be hard to clear
• Hygiene returns: decide on your return policy early and check any state or local rules
• Lease terms: check the length, deposit and personal guarantees before signing

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $80,000, depending on your lease and deposit, shop fit-out and how much inventory you buy across sizes. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your location.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, niche, size range and opening hours. This is revenue, not profit, and slow-selling sizes can tie up cash in inventory.

Check your state's rules for a seller's permit or sales tax registration, and your city or county business license. Also check liability and stock insurance, return policy rules for hygiene items, and lease length, deposit and personal guarantees.